• State of the Union debate
  • Wednesday 16 September
  • Iratxe García, S&D Group President

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been a wake-up call for the EU and we will be judged on our efforts to emerge from this crisis stronger, having helped those who need it the most. That is why this week, I wrote a letter to Commission President von der Leyen, ahead of the State of the Union ahead of the State of the Union address to the European Parliament, setting out the S&D Group’s priorities for the months and years ahead. With Next Generation EU, we have already shown that we can work together to rally behind a resilient and sustainable recovery. Next week, we expect President von der Leyen to listen to our calls and set a path for a more sustainable Europe that puts people and their well-being first.”

S&D press officer: MARTIN DE LA TORRE Victoria - victoria.martindelatorre@ep.europa.eu - + 32 473 23 41 73

 

  • Rule of law and the situation in Poland
  • Debate on Monday 14 September
  • Final Vote on Thursday 17 September
  • Juan Fernando López Aguilar, S&D MEP, rapporteur on the rule of law in Poland, and Chair of the committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs

“Next week the European Parliament will vote on my report that gives a detailed overview of how the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights have been undermined and damaged in Poland since 2015. Adopted by a large majority by the LIBE committee in July, the report calls on EU member states to finally take the Article 7 (1) procedure seriously and declare that there is a clear and serious breach of the rule of law and European values by Poland. The situation is very concerning, and unfortunately has deteriorated even more over the summer, with the escalation of hate speech and police brutality against LGBTI people“.

S&D press officer: CZERNY-GRIMM Inga - inga.czerny-grimm@ep.europa.eu - + 32 474 62 28 84

 

  • The escalation in the Eastern-Mediterranean
  • Debate on Tuesday 15 September
  • Vote on Thursday, 17 September
  • Kati Piri, S&D vice-president for foreign affairs

“The situation in the Eastern Mediterranean has escalated dangerously, with hostile rhetoric by Turkey and dangerous incidents reaching unprecedented levels. The EU has called for dialogue with Turkey and demanded Ankara to refrain from unilateral steps that stoke tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. EU foreign ministers have also called for further sanctions against Turkey should Turkey not de-escalate tensions in the region. The S&D Group fully supports these steps which is why we made sure there is a debate and a resolution in the next European Parliament plenary next week.”

S&D press officer: BERNAS Jan - jan.bernas@ep.europa.eu - + 32 471 64 87 77

 

  • Belarus
  • Debate on Tuesday 15 September
  • Robert Biedroń, S&D MEP and chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Belarus

“S&Ds firmly stand with the people of Belarus who have impressed us with their ongoing, nationwide pro-democratic revolution against the fraudulent 9th of August presidential elections. Peaceful rallies of unprecedented proportions that have flared up across the country were met with violence and repression. It must stop immediately and be investigated and the perpetrators must be prosecuted. All detained persons must be released immediately. S&Ds call for a strong, principled EU position that goes beyond non-recognition of the stolen elections. We call for sanctions, including against Lukashenka to be effective as soon as possible. They should include middle-ranking officials involved in election fraud, violence and repression. In the longer term, the EU must review its policy towards Belarus. In the longer term, the EU must review its policy towards Belarus. It's crucial that not a single Euro of EU financial assistance benefits the Belarusian regime. At the same time we have to continue supporting Belarusian civil society as best as possible.”

S&D press officer: CZERNY-GRIMM Inga - inga.czerny-grimm@ep.europa.eu - + 32 474 62 28 84

 

  • Own Resources and launch of the Recovery Plan
  • Final vote on Wednesday 16 September
  • Elisabetta Gualmini, S&D spokeswoman on own resources

“Our Group backs the European Parliament’s proposals for new own resources stemming from: contributions based on non-recycled plastic waste and the extension of Emissions Trading Scheme, digital services taxation, a carbon border tax, a financial transaction tax, and a common consolidated corporate tax base. The text to vote in Plenary proposes to establish a legally binding calendar for the introduction of an ambitious basket of own resources which shall be linked to the implementation of European policies: the green and digital transitions, and on a strong social Europe. European leaders need to understand that now is the chance to give the EU the power to finance entirely the recovery plan and help its citizens, and not the time to put a bigger burden on them. Almost 70% of the European budget is currently financed by national contributions. For the EU to claim its operational legitimacy, this must change!”

S&D press officer: CHIRU Dana - dana.chiru@ep.europa.eu - +32 460 96 33 54

 

  • Just Transition Fund
  • Final vote on Wednesday 16 September
  • Pedro Marques, S&D MEP

“The Just Transition Fund is not only linked to the target of climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest but, thanks to the S&Ds, also to the intermediate target of 2030 to ensure that from the beginning we are on the right path forward. A series of core socialist issues have also been incorporated in the final version agreed in the committee: reinforcement of the social dimension, social infrastructure, energy poverty, explicit alignment of the Fund with the 2050 climate neutrality target and 2030 mid-term goals, and a significant part of the fund will be dependent on concrete achievements of decarbonisation goals."

S&D press officer: CHIRU Dana - dana.chiru@ep.europa.eu - +32 460 96 33 54

Kontakt(y) prasowy(e) S&D